Haryana opens NMMS 2026-27 applications; Class 8 students can apply till 24 October

Online applications for Haryana's National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme examination for 2026-27 are open. Class 8 students in government and aided schools can apply through the Board of School Education Haryana portal until 24 October 2026. The written exam is scheduled for 29 November 2026.

The State Council of Educational Research and Training, Haryana, based in Gurugram, has published the prospectus for the cycle. The registration link is also flagged on the SCERT Haryana website. The exam itself will be conducted by the Board of School Education Haryana, Bhiwani, at centres across the state.

Who the scheme is for

NMMSS is a central scheme meant to keep academically able students from poorer families in school through Classes 9 to 12. In Haryana, the state selects candidates against a quota of 2,337 scholarships. Selected students receive Rs 1,000 a month for Classes 9, 10, 11 and 12, subject to the national scheme rules and later registration on the National Scholarship Portal.

The Haryana prospectus and portal describe the exam as open to Class 8 students studying in government or government-aided schools who meet the income and academic conditions set out in the booklet. Reserved-category applicants must upload the relevant certificates with the online form. The portal text notes reservation for Scheduled Caste, Backward Class and children with disabilities as per state rules.

Exam pattern and qualifying marks

The selection test has two parts of 90 minutes each. The Mental Ability Test carries 90 multiple-choice questions of one mark each. The Scholastic Ability Test also carries 90 questions: 35 from science, 20 from mathematics and 35 from social science. Every question is compulsory. Answers are to be marked on an OMR sheet.

Qualifying marks are 36 out of 90 in each part for the general category. For Scheduled Caste, Backward Class and Divyang candidates the qualifying mark in each part is 29. There is no fixed, narrow syllabus booklet; the prospectus says questions will be pitched at the Class 7 and Class 8 level used by the Haryana board and CBSE.

Dates candidates should not miss

Online applications began on 24 September 2026. The last date to submit the form is 24 October 2026. The prospectus states that this deadline will not be extended. The examination date is 29 November 2026.

After selection at the district level against the district quota, scholarship continuation still depends on the student completing the separate NSP process when that window opens. Clearing the state exam alone does not automatically start the monthly transfer.

How to apply

New candidates register on the NMMSS portal linked from SCERT Haryana and BSEH. Students who have already registered can use the search option on the same site. The prospectus PDF is available for download from the registration home page, and a press note link is listed beside it.

Parents and headteachers should check school category eligibility before paying any fee or uploading documents. Wrong school-type entries are a common reason forms get stuck later. Keep scanned copies of the income certificate, caste or disability certificate where applicable, and a clear photograph ready before starting the form.

For Haryana families tracking scholarship exams this autumn, the Gurugram SCERT notice and the Bhiwani board portal are the two places that matter. Unofficial WhatsApp forwards will not change the 24 October close or the 29 November exam date.